In today's fast-paced lifestyles, it's not always easy to eat healthy. Now couple this
problem with weight loss and it seems almost impossible to ever lose those unwanted
pounds. My experience as a wellness coach has helped and encouraged many women
who have difficulty losing weight because they are confused about what foods to eat for
healthy weight management. Here are two popular questions, answered.
Question: Can fast foods be part of a healthy weight loss program?
Answer: Not everyone has the ability to eat home cooked meals throughout the day.
Quite
often many people don't have the time, or they eat on the run between appointments, or
they dine with friends at restaurants. Fast foods can be included in a healthy weight loss
program. The trick is to know how to make wise choices.
A good rule of thumb is to share a meal with a friend or eat half of the meal and take the
other half home as leftovers. Instead of drinking calorie-loaded sodas, try water or iced tea
instead. Choose salads topped with grilled chicken breast, fish or beef and ask for the
salad dressing to be served on the side. Try tacos with salsa, chopped onions and
tomatoes with a sprinkle of cheese. It is recommended to stay away from fried foods
because they are loaded in fat and calories. However, an occasional small portion won't
harm.
You can still lose weight without eliminating favorite foods. It's all about portion control,
wise choices, and only occasional visits to restaurants.
Question: Are vegetarian diets healthy ways to lose weight?
Answer: Don't be fooled into thinking vegetarian diets are healthier choices when losing
weight. Vegetarian eating plans that include consuming large amounts of high-fat, high-
calorie foods will not be helpful for weight loss. Also, vegetarian diets may lack certain
nutrients found in animal products such as calcium, iron, protein, vitamin B 12, vitamin D,
and zinc. These important nutrients come from the following food sources:
Calcium: dairy products, fortified soy-based beverages, tofu, collard greens, kale, broccoli
Iron: cashews, spinach, lentils, chick peas, fortified bread or cereal
Protein: eggs, dairy products, beans, peas, nuts, seeds, tofu, tempeh
Vitamin B 12: eggs, dairy products, fortified cereals or soy-based beverages, tempeh,
miso
Vitamin D: fortified foods and beverages including milk, soy-based beverages
Zinc: whole grains, nuts, tofu, green leafy vegetables
A vegetarian diet is a good choice for losing weight if it is low in fat and includes all the
important nutrients needed for health.
Despite popular belief, fast foods can be included in a healthy weight loss program and
vegetarian diets don't guarantee healthy weight loss.